Mizzou, Big 12 future could take longer than expected

Posted by Ben Kercheval on October 3, 2011, 9:45 AM EDT

Realignment fatigue? Too bad.

Missouri’s Board of Curators is set to meet tomorrow (Tues.) to discuss matters related to conference affiliation — we should know the official agenda some time today — but what they decide may not have an immediate impact on the conference landscape, particularly with the Big East.

“My guess is they will do what Texas A&M did, what Oklahoma and Texas did when their boards met and give (Chancellor) Brady Deaton the authority to deal with the issue,” a Big 12 official told the Kansas City Star. “I’d be very surprised if what came out of the meeting was news that Missouri made application and was accepted an offer from the SEC.”

Indeed, we’ve seen that realignment doesn’t happen overnight; Pitt and Syracuse came about as close as one could to making a quick bolt.

Although Deaton stepped down from his post in the Big 12’s five-member expansion committee, he’s still the chairman of the Big 12 Board of Directors. It may not ultimately affect how Missouri votes, but Deaton’s position puts the school in an awkward place.

Interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas has previously stated that he’s confident Missouri will stay in the Big 12. Word late last night was that Mizzou is making it known they want several changes to occur within the Big 12 (don’t we all?). What those changes are remains unknown, although you can probably bet equal revenue sharing is somewhere in there.

Perhaps a gold-plated bathroom too.

Okay, maybe just the revenue.

Either way, and as we’ve maintained, there’s a lot to work through if the Big 12 is to stick together as a 10 or 12-team league. We may not know Missouri’s intentions right away, but what the Board of Curators decide could give us a first indication.

6 Responses to “Mizzou, Big 12 future could take longer than expected”

kcrobert10 says:Oct 3, 2011 12:02 PM

3 to 1 odds the higher UPS a mizzou screw this thing up. There really good at that. The sec is the right choice because they will show u the money but these guys will stay in the big 12 outta sheer desire to keep the old gang (ku, kst, ist, and even ou, ost) in the same conference as they allways have been. We will go on being mediocre here just as we prob would be in the sec the only diff would be far less money but hey our conscious will be clear right. Hey buck up mizzou fans when Texas and the okie schools bolt for another conference we will have the big 10 right.

Not to hurt Mizzou’s pride but they are second tier Big 12 team at best. How does that translate to the SEC. I guess if you like being Baylor or ISU of the SEC then have at it.

A&M is a great example of egos and fans who know nothing about talent level and competition, but just wanted to stick it to the BIG 12 and Texas. So going to jump in a conference where you went from being at least the 4th or 5th best program to well 9th or 10th program in a conference makes absolutely no sense. Also A&M just opened the door further for Florida, Alabama, LSU, and Auburn into their fertile Texas recruiting ground (Not that A&M recruits well).

So go ahead Mizzou Tigers and take what little tradition, 0 conference championships (BIG 12), and 0 national titles to the SEC. Bring Nick Saban, Les Miles, Will Muschamp, and Gene Chizic into your backyard to take your athletes…wait OU already does this…..

I think Mizzou leaving will be great for them as well as everyone else in the big-12. I say that because it will finally put this conference one step closer to finally dying. I’ll tell you this for sure BYU, BOISE, TCU, SMU, UH, or Rice are not in ANYWAY good enough replace the Buffs, Huskers, Aggies, or Mizzou!!!! Why not also consider Nevada and Wyoming??? This whole big-12 mess is a big fat steaming “Texas” turd. And, Sooner fans the only reason your not happy for Mizzou is because you’re envious. If little sister OSU wasn’t tied to your ankle you’d bolt as well;-)